News and Analysis
June Retail Sales See Moderate Growth Amid Solid Economy
Retail sales in June demonstrated moderate growth, reflecting the stability of the current economy and near-zero inflation for retail goods, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions. This report, by the National Retail Federation (NRF), provides a detailed overview of retail sales trends and consumer spending behaviors. Economic Overview Despite facing […]
“Coupon Clippers” are Now “Coupon Clickers and Viewers”
The concept of discount coupons for grocery items originated in the 1800’s. After all, who doesn’t want a deal? But we’ve come a long way from paper envelopes filled with individual pieces of paper. Although local “circulars” still fill our mailboxes, automation and precise consumer targeting have taken the concept to a whole new level. […]
Big MULO Moments: Amazon Day 2024 Recap & Insights
Amazon Prime Day has passed. In the MULO (multi-location) retail and restaurant worlds, analysts and the media use certain major moments to” temperature-check” consumer spending behavior, marketing tactics, and economic trends. Super Bowl Christmas Back-to-School (which we’ll soon be covering) Valentine’s Day Mother’s and Father’s Days Wedding season (which seems to be year-round these days) […]
Commentary
How to Respond to Inflation’s Impact on Consumer Behavior
The first step is accepting that no one data source will be representative of a multi-dimensional consumer. As powerful as it is, first-party data is not scalable, and we can no longer get away with ascribing meaning without context. Finally, we need a holistic approach to identify new audiences.
Latest Posts
Grocers Grapple with Reaching Middle-Market Shoppers
Of all the categories of retail shoppers, one stands out as being particularly difficult to reach — the middle-market shopper. Neither price sensitive nor premium, middle-market shoppers are unpersuaded by the availability of cheaper or more sustainable options. To engage this elusive group, one-to-one marketing is the only reliable option.
Many Consumers May Be Relaxing on Location Privacy — But Not Necessarily for Ads
Are Americans opening the door on privacy? Despite initial reservations, a new survey shows consumers are largely open to sharing their location data with brands, as long as it benefits them personally or improves society at large. But comparatively few say they’ll share location data in exchange for ads.
Streets Ahead: ChatGPT, AI-Generated meta descriptions and AI Mode